STATE CERTIFICATION OF READING TEACHERS AND SPECIALISTS -- REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL SCENE.

KINDER, ROBERT FARRAR

THE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR READING PERSONNEL AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND PUERTO RICO WERE STUDIED. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE MAILED TO THE STATE EDUCATION CERTIFICATION OFFICERS. TWENTY-FIVE OF THE 52 AGENCIES POLLED REQUIRED CERTIFICATION FOR READING SPECIALISTS. MOST STATES DID NOT REQUIRE SPECIAL TRAINING FOR PERSONS WHO TAUGHT OR SUPERVISED READING CLASSES OR PROGRAMS. THE STATE AGENCIES IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AND TEACHER-TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AS THE GROUPS WHO INITIATED THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. NINE STATE AGENCIES CERTIFIED A READING SPECIALIST, EIGHT A SPECIAL TEACHER OF READING, EIGHT A CLINICIAN, SEVEN A SUPERVISOR, AND FOUR A READING CONSULTANT. EIGHT READING CERTIFICATION CREDENTIALS APPEARED TO MEET THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION'S STANDARDS. OF THE 27 STATES THAT DID NOT HAVE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, 15 ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPING A PROGRAM. QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (BOSTON, APRIL 24-27, 1968). (BK)